In celebration of the International Workers’ Day, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) in Abu Dhabi, under the auspices of the Philippine Embassy and the office of Labor Attaché Ophelia N. Almenario, has released the following guidelines for Filipinos working or looking for jobs in the United Arab Emirates

1. Always remember to read and understand what every page of the employment contract says before you sign on it.
It pays to know what you are getting into instead of finding out about it a little too late. The terms and conditions of your employment contract defines the conduct of your life in the company. As they say,“Mabuti nang nagkaka-intindihan sa simula pa lang.”

2. Make sure that what you sign in the offer letter and in the contract is the same.
There have been cases where actual contract provisions were not what was stated in the employment contract. As they say, “Basahin mabuti.”

3. Never work without an employment visa.
You are putting yourself at great risk. It is illegal to work without an employment visa, and doing so puts you at the mercy of your employers. As they say, “‘Wag kukuha ng martilyong ipupukpok sa sariling ulo.”

4. Make sure visa is under the company’s sponsorship.
This way, you’ll know who to go after in case something goes wrong. Also, this will ensure you are employed by a legitimate company. As they say, “‘Wag pade-denggoy.”

5. Always get employment using the legal pathway provided for by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
This will ensure that you are protected against unscrupulous recruitment agencies and employers as well as human traffickers. As they say,“‘Wag makipagsapalaran, siryosong bagay ‘yan.”

6. Don’t be recruited through phone or social media.
There have been numerous reports, time and again, about human traffickers victimizing unsuspecting jobhunters by merely posting non-existent employment openings on the social media; or by making phone calls. Three words: Verify, verify, verify!
Not a few runaway OFWs in the UAE have told attending embassy or consulate welfare officers and social workers that they learned about the bogus jibs on Facebook, worse, some said a “friend of a friend” recruited them. As they say, “‘Wag basta basta magtitiwala.”

7. Check if your offer/employment contract has been extended or registered with the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
The MOHRE is the government agency overseeing employment matters in the country. You can start with their website: https://www.mohre.gov.ae/en/home.aspx
A lot of OFWs are often left in the dark about their employment status. Checking with MOHRE is a way out of limbo. As they say, “Magsuri at kumilos.”

8. Check if your recruiter is duly licensed by the POEA (you may check this in the POEA website atwww.poea.gov.ph/ )
Remember, bad people will always take advantage. Be a step ahead by doing your homework. As they say, “Walang maloloko kung walang magpapaloko.”

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